1986 — Feb 11-24, Heavy Rain, Flooding, Levee Failures, Northern CA, NV — 14

—  14  Paulson, et al. “National Water Summary 1988-89–Hydrologic Events and Floods..” 1991.

—  14  USGS. Summary of Significant Floods in the US, PR, and the VI, 1970-1989. 2008.

 

Narrative Information

 

Paulson: “The most recent large floods in California were in February 1986. The storm pattern was similar to that of December 1955 and December 1964 and produced substantial rainfall and floods in the northern one-half of the State (California Department of Water Resources, 1988). A series of storms embedded in a flow of moist air from the southwest moved across the State. From February 11 to 22, precipitation was recorded in many areas of northern California for 12 consecutive days. The principal track of the storms passed northeastward over Santa Rosa, Sacramento, and Yuba City into the Feather, Yuba, and American River basins of the Sierra Nevada. The largest total rainfall for the period was 49.6 inches, recorded at Bucks Lake in the Feather River basin. Storm totals of 20-30 inches were common for many locations.

 

“Peaks of record were measured on the Russian River at Guemeville and the Napa River near Napa. Flood damage to downtown Napa was extensive. In the upper Feather River basin, flood peaks were the highest of record. State Highway 70, which follows the North Fork Feather River, was closed for several months because of washouts, landslides, and damaged bridges.

 

“Runoff in the Sacramento River from the February 1986 floods was generally well controlled by timely reservoir releases and by operation of bypass weirs and overflow channels. Levee failures, however, contributed to the 14 deaths, 69 injuries, and 50,000 evacuations caused by the floods. Damage to property was estimated by the State Office of Emergency Services to be $379 million (California Department of Water Resources, 1988). Considering that flood stages in the Sacramento River in the vicinity of Sacramento were the highest since at least 1909, it is fortunate that more levees did not fail.”  (Paulson et al. 1991)

 

USGS: “The first significant flooding of 1986 occurred in northern and central California and western Nevada as a result of rainstorms beginning February 11 and continuing through February 24… The storms produced widespread flooding and landslides. Record flooding occurred in three streams that drain to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay area. Large maximum discharges also occurred in the Feather and American River Basins in central California. Lake Tahoe rose 6 in/d as a result of high inflow. In California and Nevada the floods caused 14 deaths and $379 million in damages (Paulson and others, 1991).” (USGS. Summary of Significant Floods in the US, PR, and the VI, 1970-1989. 2008.)

 

Sources

 

Paulson, R.W., E.B. Chase, R.S. Roberts, and D.W. Moody (Compilers). “National Water Summary 1988-89 – Hydrologic Events and Floods and Droughts.  U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2375; excerpted in Major Floods and Droughts in California (website).  1991. 10-9-2009 at: http://geochange.er.usgs.gov/sw/impacts/hydrology/state_fd/cawater1.html

 

United States Geological Survey. Summary of Significant Floods in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, 1970 Through 1989 (Water-Supply Paper 2502). USGS Kansas Water Science Center, Sep 17, 2008. Accessed 11-12-2016 at: http://ks.water.usgs.gov/pubs/reports/wsp.2502.contents.html#HDR1